Project 1882 urges the EU to stand up for animals

The review of the EU animal welfare legislation is an opportunity to improve the lives of billions of animals in Europe's factory farms, which could also have a global ripple effect if new import regulations with animal welfare requirements are incorporated. Four legislative proposals—keeping of farm animals, transport, slaughter, and animal welfare labeling—were supposed to have been presented by 2023, but the European Commission failed to deliver on its commitment and only proceeded with the proposal on animal transport. EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi promised that the remaining proposals will be presented in 2026, which is why the Commission re-launched the call for evidence for the revision of the animal welfare legislation during July. 

Project 1882 has submitted a response which highlights gaps in the current animal welfare law and points out issues completely omitted by the current legislation, including but not limited to:  

• Cages: Ban the caging of animals (hens, quails, ducks, geese, rabbits, calves in individual pens, tethering of sows), in line with the citizens' initiative End the Cage Age. Through long-term advocacy work, Project 1882 has ensured that cages have been eliminated in Swedish egg factories. Now we wish to see a legal ban in Sweden and at EU-level.  
• Male chicks: Phase out the killing of day-old male baby chicks in the factory farms. “In ovo sexing” technologies can now detect the sex of a chicken embryo before they hatch, which allows the section of viable eggs before the animals are born. This is already practiced in Germany, France and Austria, but not yet in Sweden and other EU countries.  
• Frankenchickens: Phase out fast-growing chicken hybrids and reduce stocking density.  
• Aquatic animals: Clearer, species-specific rules are needed for the welfare of fish and other aquatic animals.  
• Ban octopus farming.  
• Mandatory outdoor access: Give all farm animals the right to spend time outdoors to graze and live according to their natural behavior. 
• Extend EU animal welfare standards to imported products: EU animal welfare regulations should be the minimum standard for imports of animal products from countries outside the EU.  

— The European Commission needs to present ambitious legislation proposals for animal welfare which takes into account current animal welfare research and which covers all animals raised in factory farms. A modern animal welfare legislation should not only aim to minimize animal suffering, it must also clearly state that animals should be able to behave naturally and that their wellbeing should be promoted, says Sebastian Wiklund, Director of Public Affairs at Project 1882.